Most sober alcoholics and addicts who work a recovery program attend daily or weekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. When one takes that first step and attends a recovery meeting they find they are not alone in the alcohol problem or the solution.
Digital Resources are Available During Covid-19
Alcoholics and addicts are encouraged to take three key action steps for building a solid foundation in recovery: go to meetings, get a sponsor, work the 12 Steps of AA or NA. In early sobriety, people who are used to numbing their feelings with drugs and/or alcohol are learning to feel their feelings, sometimes for the first time since childhood. This quest can be daunting during normal times, but it might seem nearly impossible during a global crisis and nationwide shutdown. Thankfully, there are ample digital resources for people seeking recovery and already in 12-step programs to stay connected during COVID 19.
It is recommended that a newcomer attends 90 meetings in 90 days, in order to establish themselves with a sober support group and ease the cravings for their drink or drug of choice. Zoom, GoTo Meeting and Google Hangouts/Meet online platform groups have virtually replaced onsite clubhouse meetings since the Coronavirus pandemic made it impossible for recovering persons to physically meet. Information on digital meetings can be found on the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. website, at https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/options-for-meeting-online and on the AA Intergroup website, at https://aa-intergroup.org/oiaa/meetings/.
A sponsor is a fellow AA or NA member who guides a newcomer through the 12 steps. Most online meetings have a “chat” box, where men and women willing to be sponsors list their names and numbers. The e-AA Group created a web page that includes a form for people seeking sponsorship. Access it directly at https://www.e-aa.org/form_sponsors.php.
A sponsor’s role is to be a sober support for the fellow alcoholic or addict. Having already worked the 12 steps themselves, the sponsor guides the sponsee through the steps as laid out in the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous. The sponsor also acts as a sounding board for the alcoholic or addict during the early days of recovery and beyond. Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. website.